Protective baby jumper

ABSTRACT

A clothing protector includes a sleeveless-shirt-like member made of flexible material having a front surface and a rear surface, the front and rear surfaces being permanently attached at a first shoulder and a first side. The front and back surfaces each have a second shoulder piece and a second side piece, and each second shoulder piece and second side piece having an attachment means for detachably connecting the second shoulder pieces and second side pieces.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/419,158, filed Oct. 15, 2002.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] This invention is in the field of clothing protectors, more specifically protectors of infants' clothing.

[0004] 2. Prior Art

[0005] The children's bibs that are available in the marketplace today have some disadvantages to their designs. Most of them do not cover a child very well and leave much of their clothing unprotected and subject to staining. Conventional bibs that hang from a child's neck tend to move, flop around, become cumbersome and even trip a child trying to crawl, for example. In addition to this, they can pose a potential health hazard because the body portion of this type of bib can cover a child's face and mouth, blocking breathing. Conventional bibs can be pulled up by a child and can hang down into their food as well, substantially reducing the usefulness of this type of bib. Also, many bibs look utilitarian and are not especially attractive. A solution to these problems is highly desirable.

[0006] When searching the stores and the internet for a bib to protect my daughter's clothes from being ruined, I found nothing that solved these problems. Rather, there were many styles and variations on the conventional bib that hangs from a child's neck. Some of the variations included an attached teether, a crumb pocket or a tray that was either sewn in or otherwise attached to the bib. In addition, there were many plastic, painter-type smocks that tie in the back and bibs made of terry cloth, hand towels with an opening in the center that is designed to be pulled over a child's head.

[0007] While searching the marketplace for something to protect my daughter's clothes from being stained and ruined, I realized that there was a need for a children's clothing protector that was simple, yet very effective for children to wear during mealtime.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a representation of the materials needed to make the clothing protector.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sewn clothing protector.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clothing protector with the closed Velcro closures on the shoulder and side.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the closed clothing protector with an optional toy or utensil holder.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the optional toy holder illustrating how the holder is designed to grasp the clothing protector at one end and a toy at the other end.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The object of this invention is to provide a new children's clothing protector that has the advantages associated with bibs found in the marketplace today, while simultaneously overcoming the disadvantages normally associated with them also.

[0014] In one embodiment, a clothing protector includes a sleeveless-shirt-like member made of flexible material having a front surface and a rear surface, the front and rear surfaces being permanently attached at a first shoulder and a first side. Moreover, the front and back surfaces each having a second shoulder piece and a second side piece, each second shoulder piece and second side piece having an attachment means for detachably connecting the second shoulder pieces and second side pieces. Optionally the clothing protector has fabric tape sewn to the edges of the clothing protector. Optionally, the attachment means is Velcro™ hook and loop tape. Preferably, the flexible material is in two layers. One layer of the flexible material is decorative print material and the other is solid color. The flexible material can be water-resistant nylon.

[0015] In another embodiment, there is a method of protecting a baby's clothing from food, which includes providing the clothing protector, placing a child's arm through the premade armhole, applying one side to the child's back and the other side to the child's front, so as to bring the closable shoulder and side into close approximation, closing the open shoulder, and closing the open side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] This clothing protector covers a child's torso both front and back. Because it is designed to fit a child's body, it stays in place, providing better food protection and more safety for a child during activity. The side openings on this clothing protector are very accessible making it easy to put on and to take off a child, especially when she is sitting in a high chair or on someone's lap. Because this clothing protector has no required front or back or inside or outside, it works equally well whichever way a caregiver happens to put it on a child.

[0017] A detachable ribbon toy or utensil holder is included and can be attached to the shoulder of the clothing protector keeping the toy or utensil off of the floor and sanitary for a child to use.

[0018] The clothing protector is preferably designed to have a decorative print fabric on one side and a solid color fabric on the other, making it both versatile and attractive to the eye as well.

[0019] This clothing protector is styled to be worn like a sleeveless shirt and covers a child both front and back. It has two closable openings for ease of putting it on and taking it off a child. The closable openings are on the same side of the clothing protector, with one at the shoulder and one at the side under the arm hole. Preferably the clothing protector is made of one layer of decorative print fabric and one layer of water-resistant nylon sewn together and bound at the edges with fabric binding. Snag-resistant Velcro is sewn at the openings and used for closing the clothing protector. A removable fabric ribbon toy or utensil holder is optional. The toy holder is made by sewing one end of a ribbon between two one-inch pieces of Velcro. The other end of the fabric ribbon has Velcro sewn to it to form a loop that holds the toy or the utensil. This attaches to the clothing protector by inserting the double-sided Velcro tab into the Velcro closure at the shoulder.

[0020] This clothing protector provides excellent coverage, is easy to use, is safe to wear during activity and is attractive looking as well. It also comes with a detachable ribbon toy or utensil holder that keeps the toy or utensil off the floor and sanitary for the child to use, which is especially important and convenient when dining in a public place.

[0021] The clothing protector can be better understood by reference to the figures.

[0022]FIG. 1 shows a layout of cut fabric for making the clothing protector 10. In this embodiment, there are two layers of fabric (although one would suffice) 12 and 14. Each layer is preferably the same size. One layer of decorative print fabric and one layer of solid fabric can be sewn together.

[0023] Fabric locations 16 and 18 are sewn together to give the clothing protector one closed shoulder. Fabric locations 20 and 22 are not sewn together. In use, the fabric is folded along dotted line 24 to form one side of the clothing protector.

[0024] In FIG. 2, the fold 24 is shown to constitute one side of the clothing protector. In FIG. 2, all edges of the fabric have been sewn, either with binding tape or with Velcro tape. Fastening members 26 and 28 form a second shoulder seam. A preferred fastening material is Velcro tape; specifically a continuous strip of Velcro hook tape is used on one seam edge and Velcro loop tape along the other seam edge. Fastening members 30 and 32 form the second side of the clothing protector. Preferably the fasteners are Velcro hook and loop tapes. The Velcro tapes need not cover the entire side seam, just enough to keep the garment closed and in place on the baby. Preferably the edges of the fabric are finished with fabric binding tape 34.

[0025]FIG. 3 shows the clothing protector as it would appear in place on a baby. The Velcro closures at the shoulder 26 and 28 and on the side at 30 and 32 are closed.

[0026]FIG. 4 shows the clothing protector of FIG. 3 with an optional toy holder 36. The toy holder 36 is a ribbon of fabric 37, which has two-sided Velcro on one end 38 that can be seen to be tucked between shoulder Velcro tapes 26 and 28. It is to be understood that the toy holder is a multi-purpose holder, which can be used to hold eating utensils, teething rings and the like.

[0027]FIG. 5 shows the detail of the toy holder 36, with two sided Velcro at one end 38, an additional Velcro tape 40 in the center of the fabric ribbon, and a third piece of Velcro tape at the second end of the fabric ribbon. The Velcro tapes at the middle 40 and second end 42 of the tape can be pressed together to form a loop 44. For illustration purposes, FIG. 5 shows a ring toy 46 captured by the loop 44. Any utensil or toy having a ring structure can be conveniently captured by the loop.

[0028] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail herein, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, materials for the clothing protector can also be plasticized fabric, fabric with a plastic overlay, and terry cloth with a plastic or vinyl backing. In addition, besides Velcro closures, buttons, snaps, zippers and cloth ties can also be used. In addition, some materials (e.g., Guilford/Rosewood Mills Style 11796 flannel) tend to attach to themselves and obviate the need for Velcro or other closures. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A clothing protector comprising a. a sleeveless-shirt-like member made of flexible material having a front surface and a rear surface, the front and rear surfaces being permanently attached at a first shoulder and a first side; and b. the front and back surfaces each having a second shoulder piece and a second side piece, each second shoulder piece and second side piece having an attachment means for detachably connecting the second shoulder pieces and second side pieces.
 2. The clothing protector of claim 1 further comprising fabric tape sewn to the edges of the clothing protector.
 3. The clothing protector of claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises Velcro hook and loop tape.
 4. The clothing protector of claim 1 wherein the flexible material comprises two layers.
 5. The clothing protector of claim 4, wherein one layer of the flexible material is decorative print material and the other is solid color.
 6. The clothing protector of claim 1 wherein the flexible material is water-resistant nylon.
 7. A method of protecting a baby's clothing from food, the method comprising a. providing the clothing protector of claim 1; b. placing a child's arm through the premade armhole; c. applying one side to the child's back and the other side to the child's front, so as to bring a closable shoulder and side into close approximation,; d. closing the open shoulder; and e. closing the open side, whereby both arms are free. 